Original subtitles

Replacing Mino-kun as pitcher is...

...Sanada-kun.

Pitcher, Sanada-kun.

Sorry, Sanada.

I wish I could pitch a little more.

What are you saying?

You faced their cleanup trio head-on.

Thanks for sharing your courage with me.

Let's do this, Shunpei!

Take them out with your pitch!

Don't forget to pace yourself!

Sanada-senpai, send them all my way!

I'll stop them all for sure!

I'm too scared to send them your way.

You might make errors.

No, seriously.

Raichi!

Don't drag him down!

Make sure you confirm where he's throwing every time!

'Cause you're an idiot!

Shut up, you good-for-nothing dad!

It's in the genes!

Raichi, how many outs right now?

There's a runner on second!

The mood's completely changed with that pitcher's appearance.

So he's the ace.

Yeah.

He's undoubtedly the ace of the team.

The Ace Walks On

The mood's completely changed with that pitcher's appearance.

So he's the ace.

Yeah.

He's undoubtedly the ace of the team.

A shoot ball pitcher who throws to the inside.

He probably pitches to contact, rather than getting strikeouts.

If we can subdue him,

we'll be one step closer to victory, Masuko-senpai.

One out, runner on second.

Plus a power hitter five-hole at bat.

My job is to kill their momentum.

What an exciting ffsituation!

Shoot.

Hit by pitch!

Where's that pitcher throwing?

We're lucky it only hit his elbow guard!

You're one to talk.

Yeah, you have no right to say that.

What a sharp shoot ball.

I knew it was coming, but I couldn't dodge it.

Yes!

Runner on first and second!

Let's take it all this inning!

That idiot.

He's just making things worse.

Though, his offensive pitching style is what I like about him.

Crap.

It's another one of their dangerous players.

Batting sixth, catcher, Miyuki-kun.

Miyuki-kun!

A hit by pitch right off the bat.

He's much more untamed in person.

Damn.

It's hard to hit wild throws.

I have a feeling Furuya will do something today.

I guess I'll borrow some luck from Masuko-senpai.

Sorry for you, but I'm going for this one.

Too close.

That was at least 140 km/h.

Not to mention that he throws right to my face after he hits someone.

His shoot ball goes deep into right-handed batters' chests.

For lefties, it goes away.

He probably plans to get strikes on the inside,

then finish me off on the outside,

but I won't let you have your way.

Miyuki's holding his bat short!

Yeah.

He's going for a definite hit rather than a long hit.

He's focused on connecting to the next batter.

He knows what pitchers hate seeing right after they walk one.

Ball!

That's 2-0!

Pitcher can't throw any strikes!

Crap.

Just swing at the easy ones!

Be careful, Miyuki.

His shoot ball's sharper than it looks.

2-0.

He should really want a strike now.

It'd be bad if I jam an outside pitch and give them a double play.

I won't try to pull it too much,

and maybe aim for right above the shortstop.

Be it a shoot ball or a fastball,

if it's even a little bit in my favor, I'll swing for it.

H-He actually looks serious for once.

Hey, that's not nice.

Yes, it's an easy pitch!

Perfect timing!

Second!

First!

Yes, a double play!

Nice pitch, Sanada!

That was great, Sanada-senpai!

Miyuki's a clutch hitter.

What exactly was that pitch?

He had perfect timing,

but he got jammed!

I'm sorry.

I ruined our chance.

What was that pitch?

My guess is...

...it's a cutter.

A cutter?

What's that, Chris-senpai?

A pitch that breaks right before the batter.

It doesn't break as much as a slider,

and it's just as fast as a fastball.

That's a cutter.

It's a type of moving fastball.

Moving...

He has a sharp shoot ball and a cutter.

So that's why he focuses so much on throwing to the inside.

Yeah.

Unlike Sawamura's natural moving fastball,

he's actually controlling where the ball moves.

That's awesome.

So he's the upgraded version of Sawamura.

Can't be helped.

It's the truth.

But we managed to drag him out this early in the game.

We'll quickly figure out how to take him down.

You sure switch gears fast!

You have your own working style.

It's not like you're an inferior pitcher.

Don't make any funny mistakes.

You can only walk three people!

Any more, and you're dead!

We're in the lead.

Go pitch without fear.

I'm always ready to pitch.

Just pitch like yourself, Sawamura.

Yes, sirs!

I will live up to your expectations without fail!

Just get on the mound already.

Boss!

Hey, they're at it.

Fourth inning?

Looks like we made it.

Hey, Tanba isn't pitching.

Number 20?

It's the first-year Sawamura.

Hey, what's going on?

Yakushi has only gotten a single run so far!

So you came, too, Hirakawa.

Kawakami's in the bullpen.

Furuya's in left field.

Where's Tanba?

He hasn't pitched a single time yet!

Don't tell me that first-year's shutting down the Yakushi batters.

What's with his form?

I can't figure out the timing.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Yeah, we get it!

Yes!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Well, he sure has energy.

Yeah.

Manaka.

Bottom of the 4th

Let's go, Furuya!

You've got this, Furuya-kun!

Out!

Yes!

Nice pitch, Sanada!

He's a good pitcher.

But why doesn't someone as good as him pitch from the start?

He's been a reliever this entire tournament.

What's the reason behind that?

Furuya!

I'll avenge you!

Hiyaa!

Hiyaa!

Hiyaa!

Strike! Batter out!

Damn it!

So that's the cutter!

I should've known it'd take more than one at-bat to hit it!

No, they were all fastballs...

I'll get it next time!

Two outs!

Damn.

I won't lose as a pitcher, though.

Everyone, let's not look back.

Let's be optimistic and just look to the future.

I don't want to hear that from you!

Yakushi Seido

I've been entrusted to pitch two more innings.

I'll shut them down and connect

to Kawakami-senpai!

Shortstop!

Out!

Yes!

Don't get too cocky, Sawamura!

Your luck's not gonna last!

H-He's on a roll.

Taking out Todoroki really worked well for him.

He's pitching...

...with complete confidence.

Harucchi's brother!

Two outs! Two outs!

By getting them out rhythmically,

he's able to play comfortably.

He's grown so much.

His arm comes out much later than I thought.

A moving fastball pitcher with a hidden gun muzzle.

I'm not gonna lose to a freaking first-year!

Nice pitch!

Nice pitch, Sanada!

Damn.

Ever since Yakushi's ace came out,

the game's come to a standstill.

Yakushi Seido

Yeah, but the biggest surprise here is Sawamura,

the first-year pitcher who continues to pitch with confidence against Yakushi.

He hasn't given up a run since the Akikawa game.

He has a unique way of throwing

which makes it hard to see his throwing arm.

The batters are having difficulty getting their timing right.

Considering how well he's pitching so far,

the coach may be having second thoughts about switching him out.

I see.

They switched Furuya out after Yakushi's first cycle,

and then they brought Sawamura out.

They're trying to keep Yakushi from getting comfortable.

Yeah.

Seido plans to win this game with a pitcher relay.

But in a situation like this,

it becomes difficult to switch him out as planned.

Will they actually switch him out once the batters come for the third time?

Or will they focus on keeping the momentum they have?

Yakushi could turn the tide, just like that.

Manaka.

I didn't expect to see you here.

You were more devastated by that game than any of us.

Hey, Tanba's going into the bullpen!

He's coming out way too late.

Tanba-san.

Four more innings.

Don't lose focus, Kawakami.

The first-years have really proven themselves.

It's up to us to shut down the rest of the game.

Yes, sir!

Oh, yeah.

He's childhood friends with Tanba.

That must be why.

Look.

Their ace is in the bullpen now.

Just look at his head.

It's shiny bald!

Is he a monk or what?

You gonna let them keep doing as they please?

Kobayashi, Ota.

I don't care what method you use.

Get a runner in front of Raichi.

Then he'll do something about it.

I'll make him!

Our lives are on the line here!

Don't let that first-year pitcher get away with this.

Yakushi Seido

Top of the sixth, batting eighth for Yakushi

is the shortstop, Kobayashi-kun.

Todoroki comes to bat this inning.

If we go by the plan,

we switch to Kawakami from their third go-around.

But Sawamura was able to completely shut down Todoroki last time,

and the rest of the batters can't time his pitch.

It's a difficult decision to make here.

Sawamura's pitching too consistently to take him out right now.

You have to carefully watch his pitch until you have two strikes.

This is something you have to get used to when you're up there.

Strike!

Nice throw, Sawamura!

You're doing great so far!

Just keep it up!

Just like everyone's saying.

It feels much faster in person than it looked from the dugout.

He's not swinging.

Is he watching closely to figure out the timing?

In that case...

Strike!

...thanks for the free strikes.

Okay! Okay!

Nice pitch!

Though that was right down the line.

Let's go immediately, Sawamura.

Don't give the batter time to think.

T-Time out!

My shoe's loose.

Damn.

Shoot.

They're making me play at their pace.

I need to get in the box when I feel comfortable.

Raichi.

I'll get you here in the best way possible.

You're an idiot,

but you're the only one who can change this game with one swing.

I don't care what I have to do.

I'm getting to base no matter—

Idiot!

I'm not ready yet!

Yes!

Leader!

Harucchi's brother!

Damn it!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

That was luck, Sawamura!

You jammed him good.

He just got lucky with where the ball—

Right?

There's finally a runner with no outs.

Yeah, and after this batter, the next one's...

Nice hit, Koba-senpai!

Coach!

We have a runner with no outs!

We have to avoid a double play at all costs!

I know!

Batting ninth, center, Ota-kun.

Isn't that...

That little...

Let's go!

Ota, you...

He's calm.

He's keeping his eyes on the runner.

Yakushi doesn't bunt.

But after their failed steal in the first inning,

I doubt they'll try it again so carelessly.

We're up by four.

If we can avoid two hits in a row...

Yakushi's bunting?

Listen up, idiots.

I'm not gonna tell you to bunt.

I don't find any fun in those boring plays.

However, if you really want to bunt, I won't stop you.

When you do, show me this sign when you're at-bat.

Don't expect me to show you how to play the game.

Think for yourself,

and have responsibility in your own actions.

That's a great bunt.

It's not something you can learn to do overnight.

First!

Nice bunt, Ota!

Nice bunt!

A runner on second now!

He'd rather sacrifice himself for the team

than give the enemy a double play.

You're finally starting to use your brains.

Damn.

I want to play with you now, too!

That's the first time I've seen Yakushi bunt.

Must mean they're serious about scoring this inning.

Not to mention the next batter's...

Batting first, third baseman, Todoroki-kun.

Here comes the crazy slugger!

Show us a big one!

Show us a comeback!

Do something!

Raichi!

Todoroki!

Th-The crowd's going wild.

Yeah, maybe this is what they came here to see.

An upset like the Ichidai game.

It's Todoroki-kun's second face-off against Sawamura-kun.

The same play as last time isn't going to work.

What will Seido do now?

Will they be persistent about the relay,

and switch out Sawamura-kun, who's on a roll?

Or will they...

Raichi Todoroki comes to bat for the third time.

Will they switch pitchers here?

What's the coach's decision?

All right, Raichi.

Blow one away right here,

and wake up the team!

I'll hit it this time!

Am I being switched right here?

No, boss! Please, boss!

Please no, boss!

Don't call me "boss."

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: Burst!

Burst!

Let's win the national title!